Father Michael C. McCorriston replaced Fr. Hagerty in 1901. Fr. McCorriston was known for always looking on the brighter side of life and was a great source of consolation to the parishioners when a devastating fire ripped through the church. Due to the efforts of the Hampton Fire Company the blaze was quickly brought under control and the damage, while extensive was limited to parts of the interior. In May 1904, Father Thomas Allen was assigned to Saint Ann’s, during his pastorate he oversaw the completion of the repairs to the church building, paid off much of the debt and beautified the interior of the church. During his pastorate the parish population grew to about three hundred people. Fr. Allen was succeeded in September 1907 by Father William Tighe. Fr. Tighe was a tireless worker would set about organizing new societies and the Golden Jubilee to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the parish. Fr. Tighe founded the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernains, and the League of the Sacred Heart, the Rosary Altar Society and the Hampton Dramatic Club. It was during Fr. Tighe’s pastorate that pastoral care of Saint Joachim’s; West Portal was transferred to Ss. Phillip and James, Phillipsburg . On August 15, 1909 on the Feast of the Assumption, Fr. Tighe offered a Solemn High Mass to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of Saint Ann ’s. Fr. Lanigan served as deacon and Fr. Maurice Spillane as sub-deacon to the Anniversary Mass. Fr. Spillane had been baptized and raised in the parish and his grandfather was the first lay trustee of the church corporation. Father Alfred Scully served as pastor from 1913 – 1914 he was followed by Father John E. Caton who served Saint Ann ’s from 1914 – 1916. Both of these pastors again found a declining parish population and by the time Fr. Caton was assigned the parish, the population had dropped to one hundred eighty-eight parishioners. Forced to make needed repairs to church property, Fr. Caton took a loan from the Second National Bank, Phillipsburg at five cent interest for six months. Increased employment and payrolls resulting from the war in the Europe were for better financial conditions in Hampton . As a result of this new found prosperity, when Father Thomas B. Hagerty became pastor in 1916, he was able to free the church entirely from debt. Father James A. Harding arrived at Saint Ann ’s in 1924 and would serve the parish until 1929. During his tenure, Fr. Harding purchased more property to enlarge the parish cemetery. But due to the ravages of time, the school building and the original carriage house had to be demolished. By the time Father J. Arthur Hayes (1929 – 1934) and Father Jeremiah Sullivan (1934 – 1936) became pastors of Saint Ann ’s, they faced the daunting challenges brought on by the Great Depression. In 1936, Father Francis J. Lyons was appointed the twentieth pastor of Saint Ann ’s. During his pastorate he made improvements to the church by refurbishing the Baptistry and creating a parish hall. The parish hall was created by excavating the existing crawl space under the church built in 1863. Most of the dirt was removed by parishioners using small spades a nd canvas bags to haul the dirt from under the church. Father John E. Larkin came to Saint Ann ’s in 1938 and served the parish until 1940. Father Thomas Barry (1940 – 1944) was able to free the church from debt once again, but was also able to make a few and improvements: he replace the old wooden altar rail, made needed improvements in the cemetery and was able to secure the Conventual Franciscans from Trenton Catholic Boys High School as weekend assistants. In 1940, when Saint Joachim’s West Portal burned to the ground, the spiritual care of the people of West Portal and Bloomsbury reverted back to Saint Ann . Father Joseph B. Miller was named pastor of Saint Ann ’s in 1944. He set about organizing fund raisers to build a mission church in Bloomsbury , which was to replace Saint Joachim’s. He was successful enough to began the building the Church of the Annunciation, but it would be his successor Father William J. Wrinn (1948 – 1956) would actually complete construction of the church building. Father Richard McEwan came to Saint Ann ’s in 1956 and immediately started preparations to celebrate the Hundredth Anniversary of the Founding of the Parish. He renovated the church and rectory, adding a new organ, new pews, side altars to match the main altar, the present stained glass windows, a new confessional, a new Baptistry and font and a parking lot. It was also during his tenure that the parish lost the services of the Conventual Franciscans, there were replaced by the Franciscans of Saint Francis Monastery of New York City . Saint Ann ’s observed the Centennial Anniversary of the Founding of the Parish on Sunday, August 23, 1959 . The Solemn Pontifical Mass was offered by His Excellency, The Most Reverend George W. Ahr, Bishop of Trenton. The Right Reverend Monsignor James J. Harding, the 17 th pastor of Saint Ann ’s, delivered the Centennial Homily. 1959 – to present When Fr. McEwan ended his term as pastor in 1968 as the parish welcomed their twenty-sixth pastor, Father Gerald J. Callahan (1968 – 1973). During his pastorate, Fr. Callahan while serving Saint Ann ’s, also had to devote his time to laying the groundwork for Annunciation Parish in Bloomsbury to become an independent parish. Father James E. Coley was appointed pastor of Saint Ann ’s in 1973. He continued the process of updating the church and the parish along the directives of the Second Vatican Council. While at Saint Ann ’s, Fr, Coley had the church repainted and carpeted, he converted the confessional into a Reconciliation Room, moved the Baptismal Font to the front right side of the sanctuary and organized Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. It was also during his pastorate that Joseph Foldvary was sponsored as the first candidate for the permanent diaconate from our parish. When Fr. Coley took a year sabbatical, Father William McLaughlin, came to Saint Ann as a temporary administrator. Father Michael J. Clark, a soft-spoken and gentle priest became the next pastor on October 9, 1981 On January 31, 1982 , Saint Ann ’s once again found herself in a newly created diocese. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II established the Diocese of Metuchen and named then Bishop Theodore E. McCarrick as the founding bishop. On May 1, 1982 , at Fr. Clark’s invitation Bishop McCarrick paid his first visit to Saint Ann ’s and received our welcome in to the new diocese. In July 1982, the parish celebrated the Feast of Saint Ann with a parish picnic, only a week later Fr. Clark passed away unexpectedly and was laid to rest in the parish cemetery. hough the parish was over a hundred years old, Fr. Clark became the first pastor to be laid to rest in the parish cemetery. In August, 1982, Father Ignatius Kuzmienski was appointed temporary administrator. On October 29, 1982 Bishop McCarrick appointed J. William Mickiewicz as pastor of Saint Ann ’s. In 1984 to mark the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the parish, His Excellency, Bishop Theordore E. McCarrick once again visited the parish and offered the anniversary Mass. Among the con-celebrants were the pastors of three former Mission Churches of Saint Ann ’s. As the population of the area grew, Fr. Mickiewicz was asked to begin laying the groundwork of a new parish. This new parish would be named Saint John Neumann, thus honoring the sainted Bishop of Philadelphia who had shepherded the area so many years ago. Father William Hewitt became pastor in 1989 when Fr. Mickiewicz named the first residence pastor of Saint John Neumann Parish, Califon. During his term as pastor Fr. Hewitt established daily Eucharistic Adoration. On July 30, 2002 , Father Michael C. Saharic was assigned as the administrator of the parish and a year later Bishop Paul Bootkoski, Bishop of Metuchen, installed Fr. Saharic as the thirty-second pastor of the parish. During Fr. Saharic’s tenure as pastor, he has undertaken an historical restoration of Saint Ann ’s. The interior of the church has been repainted and the original gothic Victorian stenciling has been restored. The paneling installed in 1960 was removed and replaced by new oak wainscoting, along with a new hardwood floor, these details have been installed to reflect the historical nature of the church. To further enhance the church an antique hand-carved English oak ambo (circa 1865), was installed along with antique pews (circa 1900). Other physical improvements included the installation of Air Conditioning, new sidewalks, much needed exterior lighting and the beautifying and development of the parish grounds. Fr. Saharic has also revived the Rosary Society, the Holy Name Society and began a Senior and Junior Youth Group, the Parish Spirituality Committee, the Social Committee and began the Christmas tradition of the Parish Ice Skating Party. Today, Saint Ann’s Parish is enjoying a new spring-time of growth and as the parish now plans to mark the One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of its’ founding, parish registration has climbed to over a thousand families. The small handful of Catholics who gathered in a private residence for Mass so many years ago could have hardly believe the impact that gathering would have; they are the founders and the foundation stones of the Parish of Saint Ann. And who then, could have imagined that over the next one hundred and fifty years what history would have in store for the parish. From this tiny spot in rural Hunterdon County, Saint Ann’s has witnessed the creation of three Dioceses, a Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression and despite the challenges of a century and a half she has faithfully fulfilled her mission, while at the same time given birth to eight Churches in Hunterdon and Warren County. Due to her contribution to, and the significant role she has played in the history of the Church in Northern Hunterdon County , in 2003, the Parish was designated by the State of New Jersey as a “Site of Historical Note”. Parish History Prior to 1859 Prior to the official foundation of the parish, Catholics in the area of northern Hunterdon County were under the pastoral care of the saintly Bishop of Philadelphia – Saint John Neumann, and would gather in homes and hear Mass offered. While the actual date of the first Mass offered in the area of Hampton is lost in history. A life-long parishioner and resident of Hampton , Doctor Robert Dineen remembers his great grandfather Maurice speaking about attending Mass in a home on Bowlby Street after his arrival from Ireland . Maurice Spillane immigrated to the United States in the early 1840’s. It was at this time that Catholics would have been ministered to by two traveling missionary priests. Father Kearin of Saint Mary’s Church, Plainfield , New Jersey and Father Riordan of Saint Bernard’s Church, Easton , Pennsylvania would visit from time to time and offer Mass and administer the needed sacraments. The number of Catholics was small because up until 1844 the Constitution of the State of New Jersey carried anti-Catholic provisions which encouraged Catholics to settle in more tolerant states or near their port of entry in the United States . By 1853, there were enough Catholics in New Jersey for the Diocese of Newark to be formed. His Holiness, Pope Pius IX established the new diocese and appointed James Roosevelt Bayley, nephew of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first Bishop of the newly created diocese. Both Pope Pius IX and Bishop Bayley are commemorated by their Coats of Arms which are displayed above the doors of the Parish Church . 1859 - 1959 In northern Hunterdon County the Catholics were mainly Irish immigrants who had followed the railroad that offered employment in the area. As the years went by the number of Catholics increased and 1859 Saint Ann ’s was officially established by Bishop Bayley during the reign of Pope Pius IX, and Father Claude Rolland was named the first resident pastor. Fr. Rolland was given the pastoral care of mission churches i n Clinton , Flemington, High Bridge , West Portal, Washington and Oxford . Fr. Rolland was a priest of French descent who has served in the West Indies . Fr. Rolland purchased land on what is present day John Street , and immediately began the construction of a single story building that would house both the Church and the Rectory. In the meantime he would offer Mass in a private home on Bowlby Street . It was also here on John Street , adjacent to the Church, that Fr. Rolland established a small Graveyard. In 1864 Fr. Rolland return to his home in France and Father Patrick Leonard was assigned the second pastor. At the time Hampton was fast becoming a prosperous town, and Saint Ann ’s parish was increasing. Fr. Leonard saw that that the small church built by Fr. Rolland was now inadequate and he selected a new site to have a larger brick church and a two-story rectory constructed, with many of the parishioners doing some of the actual work. The cornerstone of the Church was laid on July 4, 1866 and when the Church and rectory were completed the following year. It was at this time that the remains from the graveyard on John Street were transferred to the new location. On September 20, 1864 , Bishop Bayley signed papers of incorporation and those papers were filed in the Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office on October 20, 1864 . In July 1869 Father Francis O’Neill was appointed the third pastor of Saint Ann ’s; he founded mission churches in four areas: Saint Rose of Lima , Oxford ; Saint Joseph , High Bridge ; Saint Joseph , Washington and Saint Joachim’s, West Portal. At this time, Saint Magdalen’s Flemington was transferred to Saint John the Evangelist, Lambertville. Also during this time Fr. O’Neill oversaw the parish school, with its one lone teacher, Mr. Daniel Mahoney. Tuition was set at 11½ cents per child per month. Father Michael Brennan followed Fr. O’Neill as the fourth pastor and would serve the parish from 1880 until 1885. On August 11, 1881 the Diocese of Trenton was established and Saint Ann ’s once again became part of a new diocese. The Right Reverend Michael J. O’Farrell was consecrated the first bishop. After the death of Fr. Brennan, Father Michael Dolan was assigned as the fifth pastor and while little is known about him, parishioners long remembered him as an honest and sincere priest. In 1888, Father William J. Donovan was assigned to Saint Ann ’s. During his time in Hampton he improved the church and rectory and developed the grounds. Father Nicholas M. Freeman and Father John W. Norris were successive pastors of Saint Ann ’s from 1893 through October of 1895, the latter leaving to continue his studies in Rome and subsequently becoming Chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton. By the time Father John Kenney was appointed pastor in 1895, the railroads that were the life-blood of Hampton moved on. With the loss of the railroad parishioners were forced to look elsewhere for work, Fr. Kenney’s pastorate would be marked by a constant battle against the ever increasing debt and declining parish population. His successor in 1897, Father Michael J. Hagerty, would continue the struggle against a declining parish population and an increasing debt.